ED Investigations; Continuing Resolution; Policymakers
BU IN DC
Dean Scott Taylor and Kaija Schilde of the Pardee School of Global Studies attended an alumni and student reception hosted by Paul Nathanson (Pardee ’85) on March 11th. Graduate students from the Pardee School spent the week in Washington, DC, learning about careers in the nation’s capital.
Kurt Cavender and Leilani Muchai of the BU Center for the Humanitiesparticipated in Humanities Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill on March 11th.
Kevin Outterson of CARB-X discussed antimicrobial resistance with Congressional offices on March 12th.
Elizabeth Bettini of Wheelock College of Education & Human Developmentattended the Special Educator Workforce: A Research Collaborative (SPARC) Center event on March 11th.
TRANSITION UPDATES: DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
On Monday, the Department of Education (ED) warned 60 colleges, including BU, they could face penalties due to pending investigations into antisemitic discrimination. ED’s Office of Civil Rights had been investigating most of the schools on the list prior to the start of the Trump Administration; the Department announced it intends to resolve the current backlog of complaints. The Administration also announced the cancellation of approximately $400 million in federal grants and contracts at Columbia University “due to the school’s continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students.”
ED announced a reduction in force (RIF) “impacting nearly 50% of the Department’s workforce” on Tuesday. In response, nearly two dozen Attorneys General sought a court order to stop the cuts. According to the Department’s announcement, the agency will continue to implement “all statutory programs that fall under the agency’s purview, including formula funding, student loans, Pell Grants, funding for special needs students, and competitive grantmaking.” However, a significant number of staff responsible for competitive grant awards at both the Institute of Education Sciences and the International and Foreign Language Education office were let go in the RIF.
BUZZ BITS…
- The Senate is expected to approve a continuing resolution that will fund federal agencies through September 30, 2025, late this evening. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill on Tuesday on a party-line vote. The measure includes cuts to research funding at the Department of Defense, maintains current levels of student aid funding, and upholds a prohibition on the executive branch making changes to facilities and administrative costs.
- Michael McDonald is the new Acting Chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) after Shelley C. Lowe was asked to step down by President Donald J. Trump this week. Lowe was appointed to a four-year term as NEH Chair by President Joseph R. Biden in 2022. McDonald is the agency’s general counsel.
- Dr. Stephen Miran (CAS ’05) was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to be Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers on Wednesday. Miran earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from BU.
EVENT NEWS YOU CAN USE
Are you looking to elevate your research and ensure it has an impact on policy? Interested in advocating for meaningful change or securing increased federal funding for your field? Join BU Federal Relations, the Office of Research, and Professors Mary Churchill (Wheelock College of Education & Human Development) and Muhammad Zaman (College of Engineering) for a dynamic conversation on how to effectively connect with federal lawmakers and influence policy decisions. The “Research Meets Policy: Engaging with Federal Lawmakers” webinar will take place on Monday, March 31st at 1:30 p.m.